[Book Review] If Hard Work Isn’t Getting You Anywhere... Make Mistakes, That’s How You Grow

Focusing Only on “Doing” Can Reduce Performance
Effective Learning Strategies and Habits Are Essential
Mistakes Are an Essential Part of Learning in Life
Opportunities for Insight and Growth

A man enjoying a swim at the beach was suddenly swept away by a rip current. No matter how hard he tried to swim toward the shore, the current only pushed him farther out to sea. The more he struggled to reach his goal-the land-the more he realized it was futile. The harder he tried, the further survival seemed to slip away.

The author, a mindset expert, describes this situation as “chronic performance syndrome.” This refers to a state in which people invest significant time and effort to achieve their goals, but see no improvement in efficiency or results. The author calls the phenomenon of declining performance when focusing only on “doing” itself the “performance paradox.”

So, how should one respond in such a situation? The author emphasizes the importance of focusing on learning rather than being preoccupied solely with achieving results. Instead of desperately fighting the current with every swimming technique when caught in a rip current, one should adopt a strategic, learning-based approach. In fact, the author shares a personal experience of being swept away by a rip current and surviving by swimming parallel to the shore, rather than heading directly toward it.

While this may seem like obvious advice, the author points out that many people fall into this trap. Through short-sighted effort, one may reach an average level, but to go beyond that, forward-looking learning is essential. The author reflects on his own school days, when he was obsessed only with getting good grades, and later, after joining a renowned venture capital firm, recalls pretending to know more than he did or making decisive choices without conviction in his youth-something he now regrets.

The “growth mindset” is the effective learning attitude proposed by the author. Unlike a mindset that fixes one’s limitations, this approach is based on the premise of infinite potential. The author explains that while the growth mindset is not a cure-all, if paired with the right learning strategies and habits, it can have a positive impact not only on individuals but also on organizations. The order sticker attached to Starbucks’ takeout drink cups is an example of such learning. Traka, who was a college student, often made mistakes in orders due to fatigue from late-night part-time jobs and studies. To solve this, she asked her colleagues to write the order details on the drink cups, which proved highly effective. Customer wait times and errors were greatly reduced, and Starbucks adopted and improved this idea globally.

One of the learning methods the author emphasizes is “insight from mistakes.” According to research by Robert Duke, a professor at the University of Texas, those who achieved high performance in piano playing differed not in the amount of practice, but in how they responded to mistakes. Rather than simply trying to reduce mistakes, recognizing them and learning from them led to better performance.

Interestingly, the number of mistakes was almost the same regardless of ranking. The author stresses that it is important to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them, rather than merely trying to minimize errors. He advises, “If you accept mistakes as an essential part of life and learning, there is no reason to be angry about them,” and adds, “Instead of obsessing over mistakes or being caught up in things beyond your control, focus on finding what you can do differently going forward.”

Courage is one of the crucial virtues needed to avoid repeating mistakes. David Damberger, a social entrepreneur and former director of Engineers Without Borders, mentions the case of water supply facilities in Malawi, most of which broke down due to lack of maintenance. He says, “Donors want their money to be spent on visible new facilities rather than maintenance,” and explains that overcoming this requires acknowledging failure and learning from it first.

Ultimately, mistakes become opportunities for insight. They are chances to correct misinformation and learn something new. The author notes, “Learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion also mainly happens through mistakes,” and emphasizes the need to make an effort to learn from and understand the experiences of other groups. He adds, “When I make mistakes that lead to insight, it’s important to create space for others to safely voice their perspectives,” and says that, through this, both individuals and society can move in a better direction.

The author analyzes the right mindset and attitude for achieving results, using a variety of examples. Even profound concepts like mindset are explained in an accessible way, providing readers with practical inspiration.

What Makes Performance | Written by Eduardo Brice?o | Translated by Lee Youngrae | Bookie | 420 pages | 22,000 KRW